Mining-related activities in the North region have emerged as an important source of wealth generation, especially with the installation of large mining companies. Currently there are about 1 million km2 of area with potential for mining that are in the control of large companies, but only 1% of this area is being explored in a effective. Among the main existing deposits in the North region, the most prominent are Serra dos Carajás and Oriximiná.
The Serra dos Carajás figures as one of the largest deposits in the world, it is located in the southeast of Pará, in the Carajás Ecological Park, municipality of Parauapebas, southern region of the state, between the Tocantins river and Xingu There is a large reserve of minerals at the site, such as iron ore (considered the purest in the world), manganese, copper, bauxite, gold, nickel, tin, among others. From the 70s onwards, the Brazilian government made several investments in structuring the region, so as to offer conditions for extracting, processing and transporting ores.
The main project instituted by the government was named Grande Carajás, the investment for its implementation was approximately five billion dollars, an amount raised for the construction of the Tucuruí hydroelectric plant on the Tocantins river, for the generation of energy to meet the needs of the project. In addition to the construction of the Carajás Railroad, which favored the circulation and flow of production and also the creation of the Ponta da Madeira port, located in the city of São Luiz (Maranhão). The construction of this port allowed the access of ships from different parts of the world, in other words, it facilitated the export process.
In the Serra de Oriximiná, bauxite is extracted, the company responsible for exploring the deposit is the Company of Mineração Rio do Norte, composed of Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, transnational companies and nationals. The vast majority of production is destined for export.
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By Eduardo de Freitas
Graduated in Geography
Brazil School Team
North region - geography of Brazil - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FREITAS, Eduardo de. "Mining in the North Region"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/brasil/a-mineracao-na-regiao-norte.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
